Ultra-processed babies: are toddler snacks one of the great food scandals of our time?

For time-poor parents, straws, sticks, pouches and powders can seem like a quick, convenient and even healthy option. But these oversweetened, mushy foods are creating a generation of choosy consumers whose teeth are already rotting
• What to feed your baby instead
A couple of years ago, nursery manager Melanie Smith, who runs Portland Kindergarten in Lincoln, noticed that many children were eating in a new way. Or rather, they were not eating in a new way. A significant percentage of the toddlers in her care were now refusing to try any element of the nursery’s small morning meal (which always includes fresh fruit) or their lunch, which might be something like spaghetti bolognese, fishcakes with vegetables, or mild chillies and curries. This new generation of infants “just don’t seem to like texture”, comments Smith, who has been involved with the nursery for 35 years (before she took over, her mother ran it for 25 years). In the most extreme cases, Smith and her staff found themselves feeding three-year-olds who vomited at the very sight of a cooked lunch.
During the 10 years that Smith has been in charge at Portland, there have always been a fair number of picky eaters. A degree of “fussiness” about food is nothing new for this age group – it can be an entirely natural developmental stage. It’s called neophobia: fear of the new. Smith says it was a normal part of nursery life to have children who struggled with certain vegetables or ones who “liked dry food but not wet food”. The difference now, Smith says, is that the nursery is seeing a lot of three-year-olds for whom follow-on milk plus commercial baby food and other packaged snacks form “100% of their diet”. At the same time, Smith says there has been a “massive increase” in toddlers with tooth decay, as well as a rise in the number of children reaching the age of three who are more or less nonverbal. She attributes this speech delay to the fact that the skills and muscles needed for chewing are related to those needed for speech.
Continue reading...-
Lab-grown food could be sold in UK within two years
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is looking at how it can speed up the approval process for lab-grown foods.BBC News - Mar. 10 -
RFK Jr. Rattles Food Companies With Vow to Rid Food of Artificial Dyes
Mr. Kennedy told executives of major food companies that he wants synthetic colors removed from their products. “Decision time is imminent,” a trade group warned its members.The New York Times - 5d -
Food Dolls on debut cookbook "Pretty Delicious"
Sisters Alia and Radwa Elkaffas, known as the "Food Dolls," share simple, flavorful recipes with millions online. Their first cookbook, "Pretty Delicious: Simple, Modern Mediterranean, Served with ...CBS News - 3d -
Swollen eyeballs, baby-like skin, and the overview effect: how astronauts feel when they return to earth
As Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare to come home after their unexpected nine-month ISS stay, here is what they may experience. Gravity may seem like a drag, but spending long periods of time ...The Guardian - 3d -
Bill Gates: My 'favorite' author's newest book is a must-read—it shows how food can become more affordable
"How to Feed the World," a book about global food supply, is the latest book from Vaclav Smil — who can count Bill Gates as one of his biggest fans.CNBC - Mar. 8 -
Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes ready for more late-night food options in Las Vegas
Ex-Packers cornerback Eric Stokes is looking forward to having more late-night food options while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Russell Wilson, Giants meet as Aaron Rodgers option seems increasingly unlikely
NEW YORK — Russell Wilson visited the Giants on Friday in East Rutherford, N.J., as the Aaron Rodgers option continued to fade into murkier view. No one can say for sure what Rodgers, 41, will ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
The Spin | We should love this India team but Champions Trophy felt a hollow triumph
Rohit Sharma’s side are all-time greats but Indian dominance has created imbalance and over-dependence. They can tear you apart with a thousand incisive cuts or systematically grind you down to a ...The Guardian - 5d -
Food additive safety under scrutiny as RFK Jr. meets with industry leaders
As concerns over food additives grow, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with top food executives to discuss stricter regulations under his "Make America Healthy Again" ...CBS News - 5d
More from The Guardian
-
Kremlin confirms Trump-Putin call on Tuesday as European leaders question Russia’s intentions – Europe live
Russian leader and US president to speak by phone and discuss Ukraine ceasefire plan. Mark Carney, the new Canadian prime minister, has arrived in Paris on his first stop of a visit to France ...The Guardian - 19m -
Houthis and US both vow escalation after wave of deadly American airstrikes in Yemen – Middle East crisis live
US says airstrikes are intended to deter rebel group from attacking Red Sea shipping. Germany is pledging a further €300m ($326m; £252m) in aid for Syrians through the UN and select organisations, ...The Guardian - 27m -
Canada PM Carney visits France and UK as Trump trade war deepens
Carney aims to bolster European alliances in wake of US president’s attacks on Canada’s sovereignty. Mark Carney, the new Canadian prime minister, has arrived in Paris on his first stop of a visit ...The Guardian - 1h -
Italy one of five ‘dismantlers’ causing ‘democratic recession’ in Europe, report says
Civil liberties report warns that Italy along with Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia intentionally undermining rule of law ‘in nearly all aspects’. Italy’s government has profoundly ...The Guardian - 7h -
Japan to deploy long-range missiles able to hit North Korea and China
Planned missiles on Kyushu said to be part of ‘counterstrike capabilities’, as fears grow over US security pact. Japan is planning to deploy long-range missiles on its southern island of Kyushu ...The Guardian - 25m
More in World
-
Kremlin confirms Trump-Putin call on Tuesday as European leaders question Russia’s intentions – Europe live
Russian leader and US president to speak by phone and discuss Ukraine ceasefire plan. Mark Carney, the new Canadian prime minister, has arrived in Paris on his first stop of a visit to France ...The Guardian - 19m -
China plans to ‘vigorously boost consumption’ to shore up economy
Communist party aims to ‘promote reasonable wage growth’ and to reduce financial burdens amid Trump tariffs. Business live – latest updates China’s government has announced ambitious plans to ...The Guardian - 20m -
China plans to ‘vigorously boost consumption’ to shore up economy
Communist party aims to ‘promote reasonable wage growth’ and to reduce financial burdens amid Trump tariffs. Business live – latest updates China’s government has announced ambitious plans to ...The Guardian - 20m -
False claims about Ethiopia’s pursuit of Red Sea access add to tensions with Eritrea
Yahoo News - 22m -
False claims about Ethiopia’s pursuit of Red Sea access add to tensions with Eritrea
Yahoo News - 22m